Little Green Footballs - Lebanese PM Wants Arab Nations to Break Israeli Blockade

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Lebanese PM Wants Arab Nations to Break Israeli Blockade

Sat, Sep 2, 2006 at 5:36:50 pm PDT

The prime minister of Lebanon is calling on Arab nations to break Israel’s blockade (good luck with that), so that food, medical supplies, and arms for Hizballah can be delivered: Lebanese official wants blockade broken.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Lebanon’s prime minister called Israel’s blockade of the country illegal on Saturday and the parliament speaker urged Arab nations to break the siege.

The calls, however, were not expected to make Israel relent in its refusal of European and U.N. requests to end its blockade of Lebanon’s air and seaports. But the effort heightens tension that could further upset the already shaky cease-fire.

Israel says the restrictions are necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rearming until U.N. troops guard the borders. Lebanon says they hamper the delivery of food and medical supplies and attempts to revive the country’s battered economy.

Speaking to a special parliament session, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora condemned the “unjust, illegal blockade” and said his government is sparing no effort to lift the siege.

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Tags: Lebanon, Israel, Hizballah, Hesbollah, Hisbollah

37 comments

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The Other Les Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:38:23pm

To which the Israeli CNO can say, "you and what navy?"

T. Jefferson Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:41:14pm

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the parliament plans to send a letter to Arab governments to "ask and insist that all Arab planes and ships break the blockade without seeking any permission from Israel."

Make my day.

jrdroll Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:43:12pm

Come on. There's a dire need for ambulances.

Laura M. Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:43:27pm

"Who assigned Israel to be guardian of the implementation of the resolution?" Saniora asked.

Well, since no body else stepped up, Israel has that right, I'd say.

Piltdown Man Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:44:01pm

They'll need to build themselves one of those newfangled ironclads or a Hunley.

The Other Les Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:46:54pm

# 5 Piltdown Man

They'll need to build themselves one of those newfangled ironclads or a Hunley.

Or a Long Lance with manual controls for those fellows who are engaged in the inner struggle.

Fjordman Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:46:58pm

Imagine if Arabs had spent all this time and energy on improving their own countries, instead of hating Israel.

Imagine, it's easy if you try......

itellu3times Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:47:41pm

This is bad politics for Israel.

Blockade is a very expensive half-a-war, and half-a-war is no war at all.

Whatever Lebanon or Hizboolah wants, they can get shipped over the Turkish or Syrian border anyway.

Tough, tough, tough situation for Israel.

krm Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:47:43pm

Israel seems to be perfectly willing to stand down IF the WHOLE of the resolution(s) gets enforced by someone else.

Why is it that there is no similar (or greater) outrage over the anti-Israel contingent blowing off all the parts of the "deal" that involve eliminating the terrorist threat that caused the problem to begin with?

Once again it is 'here's the "peace deal" - now Isreal must live up to all of its obligations immediately while everybody else completely ignores all of their obligations'.

Teacake! Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:49:11pm

Everything Israel with those assholes is always illegal and unjust. And terrorist organizations have international protection. Truely the world turned inside out one night while I was sleeping, someone please wake me up.

saltmarsh Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:53:02pm

Ahhh, nothing like a nice shit sandwich.

So? Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:54:54pm

Let them sneak in food from Syria through those bunker style tunnels. I'm sure the insulation will keep the fruits and vegetables fresh.

So? Sat, Sep 2, 2006 3:58:58pm

Since Israel became a nation I wonder how many times the word

CONDEMN

has been used against them?

It would probably get 300 billion or so hits on google or if you spread the word using a 12 point font end to end it would reach from Earth to Pluto and back. Condemn this, you._________________________

(fill in blank with your own expletive)

Jim in Virginia Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:00:04pm

Lebanese PM asks Arab nations to commit suicide

saltmarsh Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:00:51pm

Maybe Iran could send one of their invisible flying submarines to break the blockade.

So? Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:03:30pm

Oh no, Iran will use their cloaking devise!

transient Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:03:34pm

It ticks me off no end that whenever the subject of (ending) the blockade comes up, Israel says "it will only lift the blockade after Lebanese borders and points of entry are secured."

What about the kidnapped soldiers?

Securing the border is necessary but insufficient. The blockade must not, should not, be ended until the soldiers are returned. Assuming they are still in Lebanon, they will be taken elsewhere (read, Iran) the minute the blockade is lifted.

Do not abandon soldiers on the field!

OLDPUPPYMAX Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:05:06pm

Its clear, both from this silly protest and from the laughable Annan "triumph" in securing Syrias borderwatching assistance, that the Israeli blockade is working. I think they will have the guts necessary to keep it going.

So? Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:08:34pm

17 Exactly Transient

I was just gonna post on that every issue.
Didn't resolution 1701 also call for the return of the 2 kidnapped soldiers?

BenZacharia Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:11:25pm

So?

Spelling error; 2 'kippered shoulders', breakfast treat.

spider mensch Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:13:07pm

but wait..your hizbollashit fighters kicked our asses supposedly..thats what you said...maybe we really kicked your ass? you hate us...and you're trying to gear up for round two...so are we..nah, I think we'll keep the blockade up for awhile longer.

massachusetts republican Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:14:41pm

I have a post on my site on the “rational actor” model of state behavior.

I think Lebanon could be seen as either a whore or Irans bitch. What do you think?

Geepers Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:20:47pm

I have a post on my site on the “rational actor” model of state behavior.

WOW That's pretty exciting!

NhaTrang72 Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:23:34pm

Maybe the mighty nations of Dar es Islam will use McHale's Navy to break the blockade.

...Plan B: flying carpets to zoom overhead

Amy Sat, Sep 2, 2006 4:49:22pm

But... but.... the Syrians have promised not to allow arms to cross its border with Lebanon!

Whats the problem? Don't you trust Assad? Kofi does!

/unnecessary, but...

The Bruce Sat, Sep 2, 2006 5:27:13pm

What's a sea and air blockade when Syria will simply re-supply Hezballah overland?

This is a farce carried out by Olmert's dipshit government to try and demonstrate resolve to the Israeli people.

Bubbaman Sat, Sep 2, 2006 5:36:18pm

As soon as all of the Arab countries remove their boycotts of Israeli goods and services.

mattm Sat, Sep 2, 2006 6:40:48pm

I'm suprized the "cease fire" has lasted this long. I hope the Hizbos break is soon so Isreal can destroy them.

theheat Sat, Sep 2, 2006 6:57:29pm

Lebanon says they hamper the delivery of food and medical supplies and attempts to revive the country’s battered economy.

That's odd, but I sleep pretty well knowing Lebanon has a battered economy.

Maybe if Lebanon had given any thought to the effects of allowing Hizballah to take control they wouldn't have a battered economy.

Lebanon has itself to blame. I'm tired of them playing the pity card to rest of the world for what they brought on themselves.

If they need to be bombed, starved, embargoed - whatever - to effect a real change, then that's what needs to happen.

If you go into contortions about every civilian life impacted in war, you've lost before you started. Cities and countries, including ones at war, just happen to be made up of civilians. If the majority of those civilians support or enable the same forces we (or anyone else) happen to be fighting, I'm not going to suddenly break down in tears about whether or not they get food or medicine.

Do you think during WWII that Germany or Japan or Great Britain became emotionally paralyzed that maybe some of their bombing killed or negatively impacted civilians? I don't.

When Lebanon gets good and hungry and good and desperate they'll change. Kofi and Company, however, are going to make sure that won't happen. Well, add the UN's actions plus the aid we're sending, and they'll never be desperate enough to change. They'll just whine a lot in the meantime. And, once they're back on their feat, they'll go back to their Jew-hating and chant Death to America, like the rest of them.

theheat Sat, Sep 2, 2006 6:58:48pm

#29 PIMF "back on their feet"

big L Sat, Sep 2, 2006 7:57:15pm

sure-food,medicine....

Orbit Rain Sat, Sep 2, 2006 10:54:33pm

“unjust, illegal blockade”

It's called war and fuck you. Who started shit again?

transferthem Sun, Sep 3, 2006 1:46:04am

The blockade of lebboland can end tomorrow. All it takes is for un resolution 1705 to be complied with, ie:

Israeli soldiers returned fit and well;

un and lebbo troops to disarm hisbollah

un and lebbo troops to prevent rearming of hisbollah

No hisbollah south of Litani River.

Not that hard really, is it? And no doubt the un will be eager to perform on the promises it made to Israel in framing 1705.

Don't get too excited about seeing an end to the blockade any time soon. The un and the arab world have tried to fob Israel off with 1705. koffi would have offered his favourite son's bank balance to get Israel to stop doing what has to be done. And now it will, as will france and teh eu, try to wriggle out of their commitments. So until they do their bit, Israel should blockade lebboland. And if all the lebbos starve, they'll be less arabs in the world. So it isn't all bad new! (PS I'm sure Israel will accommodate the Christian Lebanese with food and medical supplies - let the muspigs starve)

krm Sun, Sep 3, 2006 3:02:25am

transferthem - The Israelis do not seem to expend any significant effort on helping out the Christian factions in their region (it is sad, but understandable given the circumstances Israel finds itself in). I suspect that in the mix of maintaining an effective blockade versus trying to help out the Lebenese Christian population - the effective blockade will win out.

de La Valette Sun, Sep 3, 2006 4:05:24am

A 16th century Ottoman fleet rowing south would give the Israelies greater cause for concern then today's Arab navies.

warren Sun, Sep 3, 2006 4:33:32am

breaking news! "moderate arabs" speak out at last! [Link: www.nypost.com...] hopefully by the time they try Israel will have a government thats not afraid to take the fight to the enemy and will tell the UN and EU STFU.

Affinity Sun, Sep 3, 2006 6:16:27pm

so that food, medical supplies, and arms for Hizballah can be delivered:

Wow.. just wow. Do you actually believe what you type? Do you realize Lebanon has a population of around 4 million people? You know- people that also need these basic necessities? Or is your image of Lebanon so twisted in your mind you equate it to Hezbollah and only Hezbollah?

Oh wait- nevermind. This is Charles we're talking about.